Unimproved Value Tax. A fact not generally appreciated siiys tfie Canterbury 'Times' (New Zealand), is the euoniious prepinderance of un earned iiicremeiil in the towns as eomT pued with the country. Tlie total uniin pmved value of the freehold land of the colony ot New /eiland l.ust ye.ir was £'74, 124. 1? -4. Uf t!i-s auioimt the uiiim pi-ove-l vidue of the freehold in the coun try was S49.2S0.4'!, and that of the freehold in tfie Ivmughs £'l'4.S44,2'W. It will thus be s.jtn that the li-aroughs ie present .-1 third of the unimproved value of the freehold of the whole colony, though their area is under 70'). Oi l acre's, or less than one-tenth of the total acreage of New Zealand. A betterment tax would be the only eseajni from this recoil (i.e.. non-paying public works), and we know that that remedy, though aljsolutely p.-i fect in theory, cannot lie applied easily to the city property. In Wellington'. Maoriland capita!, for instance, a better ment lax has been levied in connection...

v No Competition. I Tlio uniform success of Chamberlain's Colio, Cliolora and Diasrhoca Remedy in tlio relict' and ouie of bowel complaints both in children and adults lias brought it into al-. most universal uho, so that it is practically without a rival, ami as everyone who has uBbil it knows, is without un equal.':. Sold by H oath wood Bi os. ? ~ \

Tlio Eyes of an Envoy. ./ ? -,r ? : ? ? — ????' i Jin. Axuitfw AVhitu, in .'VA Diplo- 1 mat's Recollection of Russia,' says lliiit iibout 18-10 the United Stafes was represented at.St. Petersburg by an ex-senator, who 'occasionally excused himself from engagements 011 the ground or; : suuuen -liitiisposition. The first persou to lose patience was the Minister's valet, an Irishman, who went to the consulate and said— ' Oi'll not stay with his Igsilliney anny longer; Oi'vox done wid . 'itn.' ' VVbat's the .trouble now ?' .said Mr. Prince (the consul) ' W.ell,' said the man, ' this niorniu' Oi -thought it was toiine to get his Igsilliney out of bed, lor he had been drunk for about a week, and in bed most of the toiqie; and so Oi wint to 'inii and says - Oi, gentle-loike, ' Would your, Igsilliney have a cup of colfee win lie rose up and shtruok'm'o in. tlio face.1 : On- that Oi took 'im by- the . collar; lifted 'iin out of bed, took 'im acrass the room, showed, him his ugly face in the ...

The Onward Move. The foresight of tho local malinger (Mr. M'Kollar) of recommending the purchase of that central corner block in Walker and Canterbury stredtu, CuEino, and of the directors in promptly adopt ing good advice, will be apparent to most people. It is becoming plainer overy day that the trend of tho business centre will bo in Walker-street, down towards the railway station. We are glad to be in a position to state the pur chase referred to is not a mere specula tion, but mude by the Banking Co. with a view of erecting spacious business premises for tlieir own purposes -in the near future. There is no question but what the new Commercial Bank will be of a high class and a great addition to local architecture.

Punished for Working, - It litis been ofton -.pointed' out that, -recent' statutes for the protection of unionists select the wrong thing for pun islunont. . .. Tliey, limko a crime of working, when over-working, is the evil which should be aimed at. ??'.The coniiuiiuence is that' cases . occur now and ? their which shock, public sentiniunt. .At- Wanganui, New. Zealand, 011 November 20, according to the.' Chronicle,' two struggling men .with sick. fuinilies were fined for working 011 a holiday,, their employer wiis fined for giving them work, and all three were warned that, a repetition of the ' crime ' would bo severely dealt with ! Yeh the two moil stated that they did not want tho holiday, and could not afford to take it.. , Tliey- wore well satisfied to be allowed to work aud earn a full day's pay. Their employer could have put tlioni oil' for a day without any serious inconvenience, yet, becauso out of consideration for their circumstances ho allowed tlioni to work, both I10 an...

That Ni3sing Link. In tlio Queensland Assembly, last week, various speakers discussed the matter of the conncction of the Queens land and New South Wales lines at Mur willuinhali. Mr. Philip said lie thought Queensland should get the whole of the Tweed River trade, and the railway as it. stood should compete with the steamers from Sydney. Why should Queensland not make the railway conncction if New South Wales would not? He gave, notice that on the following day he would ask for infortnafion'iis to the railway policy of the Government. lie referred to certain reports in a section of the Press, but Mr. Morgan said, 'Purely apocry pha}.'1 On t lie subject, of tho connection with the New South Wales system at the Tweed, the Premier indicated that the Government was negotiating, and with a new Public Works Committee aud a new Parliament in the mother State there might be a better prospect of success. As to the Northern River trade, the Government recognised the importance of it, and wer...

The Cause of Appendicitis, j ' F. R. C. S.' writing iu the 'National Review' for November, says that the danger of an attack from appendicitis arises lcss; from the swallowing ot small fruit stones than the practice of eating one's meals in a hurry. ' 'As regards tho cherry-sronc, be writes, ' the sooner it .is,, disposed of the better. When -the reader, realises that the entrance oi the :;tubi,).. which _J«ts a larger diameter than ?: an y other part, will hardly ^ndinih in the norma h slate the- top; of : air uncut cedar .'.pencil,.: it will- readily-; be - seen-: 1 hat. even a i moderate , si/.etl ?? cberry.-stouo ? ? won Id j have some diflicullj'^ in passing in: 1 That smaller foreign bodies may gam access to. the .interior of the . tube is undoubtedly true; but the number of instances 111 wlneli' such; have been actually discovered within the deseased appendix is comparatively . small: , A single duck-sliot, a small fragnient of solder from a eaiined-meat tin, a bristle from a...

- Gpcctal Advertisements, j i. ~ =L-r — Absolutely ^ PAINLESS Dentistry. ? Gra y9 Dental Surgeon, Walkek-stkeet Cam no, Next to Mr. J;1 15. M'Dougall'B Office Late of Edinburgh and Parle, E.D.F. =» *. * Diploma of the French Dcnta School A SPECIALITY, Genuine Modern Dentistry. MR. GRAY having had a large experience in Gold Crown am) Bridge Work, Pivoting of Teetli on their Natural Roots, &amp;e., informs intending patients that they inuy have this class of work done on the most Modern and Scientific Principles. Teeth dy Suction, mounted on suction plates in Gold, Platinum, and Vulcanite. — Teeth Scaled ? STOri'iNiis done on the Latest Principles in Gold and Plastic Fillings TEETH EXTRACTED PAINLESSLY ' BY NITROUS-OXIDE GAS, &amp;c. : * *- * :* Mk, Gkay holds Certificates from leading Practitioners both in Eiliu burgli and Paris, and has had ovei ten years' experience in Dentistry. Therefore patients may rely upon having dental operations performed in the most skilful manner....

What a Blessing. Wiiat a blessing. . : ?Sought after by thousands. Casino is finding it out. Many a miserable man is happy now. ????? ,? Nights of unrest, (lays of trouble. ? Any irritating skin disease means this. - In itatiug piles mean it. Eczema, too, just as bad, and just as haul' ? to euro. v But Doaii's Ointment does it, relieves at once, and euros if you. use it long enough. ? A spue-Hie fur any irritation of tho skin. A blessing to the sutl'ering public. Hole's Casino proof to back it. ^ Mrs. T. M'Mahon, opposite the Butter Factory, South Casino, says Some years ago I had occasion to use' Dunn's Ointment oil the children, who were suffering with painful and obstinate eruptions of the skin. I found the remedy very soothing when ap plied, and remarkable in healing. I have always kept the remedy in tho house ever since. I have lecommeudcd it to many. I might also mention that Dean's Dinner Pills are splendid tor headaches and bilious, ness. ' This remedy is a / mild laxative, ...